Warriors to sign Livingston after revival with Nets

Updated 11:33 pm, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) applies pressure on Brooklyn Nets guard Shaun Livingston (14) during the first half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball game in Miami, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. (AP Photo) less

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) applies pressure on Brooklyn Nets guard Shaun Livingston (14) during the first half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball game in Miami, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. ... more

Photo: Associated Press

Warriors to sign Livingston after revival with Nets

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When the Warriors agreed in principle to a deal with Shaun Livingston on Tuesday, they had found a player they hope will have the playmaking abilities to back up Stephen Curry and the length and defensive heart to play alongside him.

The Warriors' decision to offer a three-year, $16 million deal was clearly predicated on complementing Curry, but - according to Livingston - the franchise now has something even more vital: a guard who will back up anyone in need and who has the heart to stop anyone who doesn't share that mind-set.

Ten years after being the can't-miss, No. 4 overall pick of the Clippers in 2004, the 6-foot-7 Livingston has fought his way back to once again be considered a can't-miss signing. Seven years and eight teams after he endured one of the most gruesome injuries in NBA history, Livingston had a revival last season with the Nets.

"Fear and doubt, and stuff like that, is kind of innate," Livingston said in a phone conversation Wednesday. "Those are natural things to kind of set in when things don't go your way. That's natural, but for me, I was able to focus on the process. I stayed in the fight, regardless of where I was. I continued to push through. I continued to scratch and claw for every inch. I looked up and I was in this position."

Last season, playing under Jason Kidd and alongside probable future Hall of Famers in Brooklyn, the 28-year-old Livingston was no longer the player whose knee exploded. He was no longer the guy with torn anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, with a dislocated kneecap or with displaced thigh and hip bones.

Finally, he was back to producing - setting career highs in total points, rebounds, steals, games, games started and minutes. Finally, he was back to being a rangy, do-everything guard.

Finally, he was back to being himself.

"It was kind of a renaissance, in a sense," Livingston said. "I was concentrating on the intangibles, the tricks, the tactics. I love the game and love to talk basketball, so it was great. It was great learning from (Kidd) and playing with Hall of Fame veterans who had won championships. Being able to soak that up and continuing to learn at this stage of my career is something I value."

The NBA is back to valuing Livingston. He had suitors who could have paid him more and would have made him a starting point guard.

But as he moved his sister into her Los Angeles dorm room - after transferring from Illinois to USC - the Warriors became the family choice for Livingston.

"There were some solid teams out there, but I think this fit was right," Livingston said. "It's a similar situation to what Brooklyn had last year, with the floor spacing and asking me to bring intangibles. There's also a chance to really relieve some of the workload from the other guys. Their backcourt is young, and those guys can put up numbers all day. But, over the course of the season, it can take a toll on you. That's why the best teams usually win and not always the best player."

Livingston said he'll offer things similar to what Andre Iguodala provided last season, but the free agent will do it from the guard spot. Livingston grew up in Peoria, Ill., about an hour away from Iguodala.

The duo taught a leadership class during last year's Las Vegas Summer League. Livingston also played with Andrew Bogut in 2011-12 and ran in the same AAU circles as David Lee.

"The makeup of the team and pieces that they have makes for a young, exciting team," Livingston said. "Outside of just being exciting, it's a good, sound basketball team. They have good players and good chemistry, guys who like playing together. Everybody is an asset there, and I can bring something to the team."